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The conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, with no signs of easing regional tensions. Early Friday morning local time, Israel launched overnight attacks on Hezbollah positions inside Lebanon. After ordering some residents to evacuate, Israeli forces carried out intensive airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli military said it conducted 26 strikes throughout the night, targeting command centers and weapons storage facilities.

Meanwhile, Iranian media claimed that Iran had shot down U.S. and Israeli drones. Qatar and Saudi Arabia also reported successfully intercepting attacks targeting U.S. military bases within their territories, indicating that the conflict is gradually expanding.

As Israel intensified its offensive, Lebanon’s Hezbollah also responded with military action. The group warned residents near the Israeli border to evacuate as soon as possible and launched attacks into Israeli territory. Lebanon had already been drawn into the conflict earlier this week when Hezbollah struck Israel, triggering a new round of military confrontation. Israel subsequently expanded its strikes in southern Lebanon, deployed additional troops to the border area, and urged local civilians to leave potential combat zones.

Several Lebanese sources familiar with the deployments revealed that Hezbollah has sent its elite “Radwan Force” to southern areas near the border to counter advancing Israeli troops. According to the sources, the unit received orders on the 2nd to join the fighting, with missions including preventing Israeli tanks from entering certain areas. The town of Khiam has reportedly become one of the main battle zones. These forces had previously withdrawn north of the Litani River following the ceasefire arrangement after the 2024 Israel–Lebanon war, but their redeployment now signals a renewed deterioration of the situation.

At the same time, after large-scale airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, Tehran and its allies have begun retaliatory actions. Israel recently ordered a mass evacuation of residents in southern Beirut, causing severe traffic congestion and affecting an estimated 500,000 people. Hezbollah also used social media to warn Israeli residents near the border to leave the area, accusing Israeli forces of violating Lebanon’s sovereignty.

According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have so far killed at least 123 people and wounded hundreds more. In addition, Israeli forces have continued striking targets in Iran’s capital, Tehran, raising the risk that the conflict could further expand.

The U.S. and Israel’s “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran has created a rift between Spain and the United States. The Spanish government has formally refused to allow the U.S. to use military bases on its territory. More than ten U.S. military aircraft previously stationed at the Rota Naval Base and Morón Air Base have withdrawn from the bases. In response, Donald Trump has threatened to impose a comprehensive embargo on Spain and suspend economic and trade relations.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly condemned the military actions taken by the United States and Israel against Iran, calling them “an unjustified and dangerous unilateral military intervention” and stating that they violate international law.

Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, also confirmed the government’s consistent position: Spain will not allow the United States to conduct any military operations that go beyond the scope of bilateral agreements or that lack authorization under the United Nations Charter.

Prior to this, tensions between the United States and Spain had already been strained after the Sánchez government refused to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP and disagreed with Washington on Middle East issues. When asked at the White House about Spain’s refusal to allow the use of its military bases, Trump harshly criticized the decision and stated that the U.S. might halt all commercial dealings with Spain, declaring that the United States “does not want to have anything to do with Spain.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent supported Trump, saying that the United States has the legal authority to impose an embargo on Spanish goods. However, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said further discussions would be held regarding options to safeguard national and economic security.

In 2025, U.S. exports to Spain totaled about $26 billion, while imports were about $21 billion, with major trade items including pharmaceuticals and olive oil. If trade were interrupted, it would inevitably have a significant impact on both economies. Although the European Union hopes to maintain stable transatlantic relations, spokesperson Olof Gill emphasized that the EU will stand with all member states and is prepared to use its common trade policy to defend their economic interests. European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné stated even more clearly: A threat to any one member state is, in essence, a threat to the entire European Union.

However, European countries remain divided over the attack on Iran. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he understands the “dilemma” faced by the United States in responding to Iran’s nuclear threat and stated that he would “not comment on an ally’s military actions.” The position of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared to shift somewhat after Iran launched a counterattack that struck a British base in Cyprus. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany then issued a joint statement saying they would take necessary defensive actions to destroy Iran’s capacity to launch missile and drone attacks.

After the Supreme Court ruled that the reciprocal tariffs imposed by former President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on the 2nd formally denied the federal government’s request to delay refund litigation for four months. The court ordered that the case be immediately remanded to the U.S. Court of International Trade to resume legal proceedings.

The U.S. Department of Justice had argued that the Federal Circuit should wait until the Supreme Court officially closes the case and allow time for the political branches to formulate a response. The Supreme Court typically takes 32 days to formally conclude a case.

The appeals court did not provide a written explanation or note any dissents in its decision on the 2nd. More than 2,000 related cases are currently pending before the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York. Although the Trump administration suggested in recent filings that refunds may be difficult to avoid, it stopped short of confirming whether it would fully reimburse businesses for tariffs paid over the past year.

Trump previously said the Supreme Court’s ruling would need to be addressed through litigation and even hinted at asking the justices to reconsider the decision—an action the Court rarely grants. The Liberty Justice Center, a legal advocacy group representing importers, welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that the court has made clear the government will not be allowed to continue delaying the process.

The U.S. Court of International Trade has not yet outlined the specific procedures for issuing refunds, and a spokesperson for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The United States and Israel have continued their attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes against several countries in the Persian Gulf. The escalating conflict has triggered the most severe disruption to the global aviation industry in years. Major Middle Eastern airports — including Dubai, the world’s busiest international air hub — have been forced to cancel flights or shut down entirely.

As airlines across Europe and the Middle East implemented widespread cancellations, the skies over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, and Bahrain were left nearly empty. Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, suspended flights indefinitely. Both Emirates and Qatar Airways — not only leading passenger carriers but also among the world’s top cargo operators — halted operations, creating far-reaching consequences.

Dubai and Doha sit at the crossroads of major Europe-Asia air routes and rely heavily on dense long-haul transit networks. When these hubs grind to a halt, passengers are stranded, while aircraft and flight crews are stuck across the globe, severely disrupting global flight scheduling. Aviation analyst John Strickland noted that the scale of these hubs means potentially hundreds of thousands of people could be stranded worldwide, with no certainty about when travel can resume. He warned that the current chaos may only be the beginning, with the duration of the disruption still unclear.

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the conflict quickly spread. Israel announced a new wave of airstrikes on Iran on Sunday, while Tehran launched retaliatory attacks targeting Gulf states. Explosions were reported in the skies over Dubai and Doha for two consecutive days, heightening regional tensions. Kuwait International Airport was also reportedly hit by a drone attack, leaving several employees with minor injuries.

Dubai International Airport confirmed damage to one of its boarding concourses, with footage showing passengers fleeing through smoke-filled corridors. Authorities said four staff members were injured. Damage was also reported at airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. Key transit hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar’s capital Doha were either partially closed or operating under severe restrictions.

Iran’s retaliatory actions prompted multiple countries to close their airspace, throwing both air and maritime transport in the Middle East into turmoil. Thousands of flights were canceled, and several shipping companies suspended transit through the Strait of Hormuz, effectively paralyzing maritime traffic in the vital waterway. Strickland emphasized that the disruption is compounded by the highly complex nature of global flight scheduling systems.

Airlines across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East have rerouted or canceled flights to avoid closed airspace, leading to longer routes and rising fuel costs. Many carriers had already been avoiding Russian and Ukrainian airspace following the Russia-Ukraine war. With Iranian and Iraqi airspace now restricted as well, available flight corridors have narrowed even further, exacerbating the strain on global aviation.

Iran’s state television confirmed on March 1 that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.–Israeli airstrike, a development earlier announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Khamenei, who had held Iran’s highest political and religious authority since 1989, was widely seen as a central figure in the country’s power structure. His death is regarded as a major turning point in Middle East affairs, rapidly heightening regional security concerns and stirring emotions within Shiite communities.

Following the announcement, hundreds of pro-Iran demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city in the south. Some young protesters scaled the gates and smashed windows. Police responded with tear gas, while gunfire was reported and vehicles were set ablaze. The Edhi Foundation said at least eight people were killed and 20 injured, most of them with gunshot wounds. Authorities later dispersed the crowd, though the area around the consulate descended into chaos for a time.

Protests also erupted in other Pakistani cities. In the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, demonstrators set fire to a United Nations office building, though no casualties were immediately reported. Crowds also gathered outside U.S. consulates in Lahore and the capital Islamabad, where police heightened security to prevent further escalation. Analysts warn that as unrest spreads, the United States and related diplomatic missions have stepped up security measures, and continued escalation could have far-reaching implications for security in South Asia and the Middle East.

Amid rapidly deteriorating relations between Iran and the United States, a dramatic development has shaken the Middle East. The Iranian government said today (1st) through state media that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in recent joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel. The news sent shockwaves through global political circles and energy markets.

According to Iranian officials, U.S. and Israeli warplanes launched precision strikes late at night on multiple military and security facilities in and around Tehran, targeting senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and key command centers. Tehran accused Washington and Tel Aviv of “blatantly violating sovereignty” and vowed “severe retaliation.” Footage aired on state television showed large crowds taking to the streets, chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans.

Washington has not directly confirmed Khamenei’s death, but the White House said the military operation was intended to “reduce Iran’s direct threats to regional security.” The Israeli government issued a brief statement saying the action was aimed at preventing Iran from advancing its military capabilities and ensuring national security.

Since assuming the role of Supreme Leader in 1989, Khamenei had overseen Iran’s domestic and foreign policies, including its nuclear program, and was widely regarded as the central figure of the Islamic Republic’s political system. His sudden death could trigger significant shifts in Iran’s power structure. Under the constitution, the Assembly of Experts is responsible for selecting a new Supreme Leader, but amid heightened tensions, the movements of the Revolutionary Guard and hardline factions are being closely watched.

The international community responded swiftly. The United Nations Secretary-General called on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. The European Union and several Middle Eastern countries convened emergency security meetings to assess the situation. International oil prices surged more than 8 percent during Asian trading, amid concerns over the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and potential disruptions to energy supplies.

Analysts warn that if Iran proceeds with retaliatory measures, the conflict could spread to Lebanon, Syria, and even the broader Persian Gulf region, fueling wider geopolitical confrontation. The Middle East now stands at a critical juncture, with developments in the coming days likely to have far-reaching implications for global security and the world economy.

According to preliminary statistics released by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on the 26th, the total number of newborns in Japan in 2025 (including foreign residents) dropped sharply to 705,809, a 2.1% decrease from the previous year. This marks the tenth consecutive year that the figure has reached a new record low since records began in 1899. The pace of declining births is 17 years ahead of the Japanese government’s projections, signaling that a review of the current social security system has become unavoidable.

Although the birthrate continues to fall, the number of registered marriages has increased for two consecutive years. Authorities stated that they will closely monitor whether the rebound in marriage registrations can translate into renewed momentum for childbirth, in an effort to address the country’s increasingly severe demographic crisis.

In response to population shrinkage, the Takaichi Government is promoting a series of economic incentive measures, including tax reductions and childbirth subsidies, aimed at easing the financial burden associated with pregnancy and delivery. However, these proposals have not yet been formally implemented.

The Takaichi Government emphasized that tackling rising prices is its top priority and is attempting to address demographic challenges through economic incentives. Nevertheless, uncertainties surrounding policy implementation and divided attention toward population issues raise doubts about whether these measures can effectively reverse the declining birthrate.

Media reports state that on the 25th, a speedboat registered in the U.S. state of Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on a Cuban patrol vessel. Cuban forces subsequently shot and killed four people on board, while six others were injured. The Cuban government said the ten individuals on the boat were Cuban nationals residing in the United States and were equipped with assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, and bulletproof vests.

According to the report, Cuba claimed the incident occurred off the country’s northern coast, near the Falcones Reef, about 200 kilometers east of Havana. The speedboat opened fire as Cuban border patrol units approached, injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol vessel. The boat was registered in Florida with registration number FL7726SH. Cuban authorities stated that the exact sequence of events remains under investigation.

The report also noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident was not a U.S. operation and that no U.S. government personnel were involved. He added that Cuban authorities had informed the United States of the incident, and U.S. investigators would quickly gather key facts before making a judgment based on the findings. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between the United States and Cuba and is expected to further exacerbate instability in the Caribbean region.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress on February 24. The speech lasted nearly two hours, making it the longest State of the Union in U.S. history. Trump described his first year back in office as a Turnaround for the Age and proclaimed that the United States has returned to its peak and is entering a Golden Age. His address was met with protests and disruptions from some Democratic lawmakers, and several media outlets and fact-checking organizations challenged portions of his claims as misleading.

On the economy, Trump opened by touting that the U.S. stock market hit record highs dozens of times over the past year and that the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed the 50,000 mark. He reaffirmed the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he said eliminated the tip tax, overtime tax, and the Social Security tax on older workers, among other tax reforms. He also criticized a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down his tariff authority as an unfortunate decision and said he would use the 1974 Trade Act and other legal authorities to continue pushing global tariffs of 10–15%. Trump claimed that in the future tariffs paid by foreign countries could replace the current income tax system.

On housing, he called on Congress to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. For retirement, he proposed a universal 401(k) plan that would provide up to $1,000 in government matching contributions each year for workers without employer-sponsored plans, along with a tax-preferred investment program for children called Trump Accounts.

Regarding border security, Trump claimed zero illegal crossings over the past nine months and said fentanyl imports had been effectively halted. He also announced a War on Fraud, led by Vice President JD Vance, targeting corruption and improper spending in the federal budget as a quick path to eliminating the federal deficit, asserting it could bring the budget into balance “overnight.” However, fact-checkers note that estimates of fraud in federal spending ($233–$521 billion) fall far short of the federal budget deficit, which was about $1.8 trillion last year.

On elections, he urged Congress to pass the “SAVE America Act”, which would require voters to present proof of citizenship and photo ID at the polls.

On foreign policy, Trump highlighted actions against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, emphasizing a “peace through strength” approach and declaring that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons. On energy, he said the U.S. secured access to more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela under President “Nicolás Maduro”, claimed U.S. natural gas production reached record levels, and insisted that major technology companies build their own power plants for AI data centers to prevent higher electricity costs for households.

In recognition of upcoming milestones, Trump awarded a Medal of Honor to 100-year-old Navy veteran E. Royce Williams and aviator Eric Shover, who was injured in the operation to secure Maduro, and presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to U.S. men’s Olympic hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. He concluded by reiterating that the revolution of 1776 is not over and pledged, under the banner of America First, to build a nation of opportunity, security, and respect.

The Netherlands’ new Prime Minister, Rob Jetten, was sworn in on the 23rd alongside members of his coalition cabinet before King Willem-Alexander. At 38, he has broken the record as the youngest prime minister in Dutch history. Open about his sexual orientation, Jetten has also become the country’s first openly gay prime minister.

He clearly pledged to implement his foreign policy agenda, continue close cooperation with the European Union, and firmly support Ukraine in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, freedom, and democracy.

In his parliamentary address, Jetten noted that the Netherlands is facing structural challenges, including inflationary pressures, a housing shortage, the energy transition, and industrial competitiveness. The new cabinet will prioritize stabilizing the economy, improving livelihoods, and strengthening social cohesion. He promised to expand the supply of affordable housing, assist small and medium-sized enterprises in digital transformation, and accelerate investment in renewable energy to balance economic growth with sustainable development. In addition, the government will review the social welfare system to ensure that vulnerable groups receive more timely and effective support.

On the diplomatic front, Jetten stated that the Netherlands will continue to deepen partnerships with European Union allies, enhance the resilience of cross-border supply chains, and play a more proactive role in addressing climate change, humanitarian assistance, and the rule of law internationally. He emphasized that amid geopolitical uncertainties, the Netherlands will uphold the spirit of multilateral cooperation and work with allies to maintain regional and global stability.

The majority parties in parliament expressed support for the new prime minister’s policy direction and expect the cabinet to demonstrate efficiency in cross-party coordination and policy implementation. Opposition parties, meanwhile, urged the government to provide clearer timelines and benchmarks regarding fiscal discipline and housing justice. Representatives from industry and academia also pointed out that if the new administration can balance investment in innovation with labor market flexibility, it will help enhance the Netherlands’ international competitiveness in high-tech and green economy sectors.

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that within 100 days of taking office, the cabinet will present a comprehensive governing plan and a list of priority legislation for the year, while launching inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms to ensure effective policy implementation. In closing, Jetten called on all sectors of society to work together, guided by pragmatism and inclusiveness, to lay a solid foundation for the Netherlands’ long-term prosperity amid an uncertain international landscape.